Do not return to your property until authorities say the area is safe. Check advice from emergency services and your local council.
Returning can be confronting. This page provides general safety guidance for people affected by bushfires in Victoria. If you’re unsure about any risk on your site, get advice from a suitable professional before entering or starting clean-up.
Before you return
Confirm it’s safe to enter
Check updates from emergency services and/or your local council.
Tell someone you’re going
Let someone know when you’re arriving and when you expect to leave.
Take essential supplies
battery-powered radio (for updates)
torch (turn it on before entering a building, as battery sparks could ignite leaking gas)
fully charged phone and power bank
drinking water and food
P2/N95 face masks (take spares)
protective clothing and eye protection (see below).
Check power status (if needed)
Call AusNet Services on 13 17 99 to check if your power is on, or if there is a power emergency.
On the way to your property
Watch for:
unstable trees and falling branches
downed powerlines
damaged bridges, roads and footpaths
weakened structures and debris.
When you arrive
For safety, initial access should be limited to adults.
Emergency services may reduce obvious hazards, but you are responsible for making sure your property is safe before you:
enter damaged buildings
move debris
start clean-up.
You may need a professional assessment, such as:
a structural engineer (building stability)
a licensed electrician (electrical safety)
a licensed gasfitter (gas safety)
your local council’s municipal building surveyor (building safety and any orders).
Your insurer may also have conditions about what you can do before a loss assessor attends.
Put safety gear on first
Before you walk around, put on:
P2/N95 face mask
eye protection
sturdy footwear
gloves
long sleeves and long pants (disposable coveralls are ideal).
Check for immediate hazards
Electricity and solar
Treat all downed wires as live and keep well clear.
Damaged solar panels may still generate electricity, even if mains power is off.
Gas leaks
If you smell gas or hear hissing:
If safe, turn off the gas at the meter or close the LPG cylinder valves.
Move away and call your distributor/supplier.
Do not enter buildings.
Gas work must be done by a licensed gasfitter.
Septic or sewerage leaks
Septic lids may have shifted or collapsed.
Damaged pipes may leak sewage, watch your footing.
Hot embers and ash
Smouldering material may be hidden under rubble and can stay hot for days.
Unstable trees and branches
Trees may be heat-damaged and unpredictable.
Soil can give way where roots have burnt below the surface.
Major structural damage
Buildings, chimneys, water tanks and stands may be unstable.
Do not enter damaged structures or walk on debris.
If unsure, contact your local council’s municipal building surveyor.
Hazardous materials
Bushfire sites can contain harmful materials, including:
asbestos
ash from treated timber (including copper chrome arsenate (CCA))
medicines and household chemicals
farm and garden chemicals
pool chlorine and cleaning products
damaged LPG bottles
residues from burnt appliances and materials
dust and ash that can irritate lungs and skin
Sharp metal
Loose materials that can become airborne.
If you suspect hazardous materials are present, do not proceed until you have the right advice.
Asbestos (important)
If your building was built before 1988, it may contain asbestos. Fire damage can make asbestos friable, meaning it can crumble easily and release fibres when disturbed. Breathing asbestos fibres can cause serious illness.
For significant asbestos removal, engage a licensed asbestos removalist.
If you’re unsure, WorkSafe recommends engaging an occupational hygienist to assess the site.
Bushfires can affect underground pipes and water quality in some areas. If you have concerns, contact your local water authority.
Tank water
Tank water may be contaminated by ash, debris, dead animals, or fire retardants.
If it smells unusual, looks cloudy, has an unusual colour, or contains particles, assume it is contaminated.
Boiling will not remove ash or debris contamination.
Do not use contaminated tank water for drinking, cooking, teeth cleaning or bathing.
Clean ash and debris from your roof and gutters (a professional is recommended)
If rain falls before cleaning, prevent the first runoff from entering your tank by disconnecting it or using a first-flush diverter
Be aware that gutters may need significant rainfall to flush clean.
If you find dead animals in gutters or tanks:
remove using gloves and dispose of safely
do not enter a water tank (confined space).
Department of Health Environmental Health Unit: 1300 761 874
Can you move back in?
Most homes will fall into 1 of these categories. Use the pathway below to work out what to do next.
If your home is unlivable and needs demolition
What to do next
Contact your insurer and confirm their process.
Arrange an inspection if needed (for example through council or a registered professional).
If an Emergency Order or Building Order to Demolish is issued, provide it to your insurer before work begins.
Use a registered demolisher or a suitably experienced registered building practitioner.
Demolition must be done by a registered building practitioner if the cost exceeds $10,000.
If your home is damaged, but could be lived in
Even if parts of the home look OK, it may still be unsafe. Arrange an inspection and report by a suitably qualified person, such as a:
structural engineer (with relevant experience)
municipal building surveyor or registered building surveyor
registered building inspector
appropriately experienced registered building practitioner.
If your home looks undamaged
If your home wasn’t directly impacted but is in a fire-affected area:
have a suitably qualified person check services are safe to use (electricity, gas, plumbing)
watch for hazardous materials on site (ash, debris, chemicals).
Temporary housing and rebuilding
If your home was destroyed or is unfit to live in, you may be able to place an emergency accommodation building on your property, (conditions apply and council notification is required). You can contact your municipal building surveyor for advice.
Before any rebuilding or replacement of fencing, property boundaries may need to be re-established and marked on the ground by a licensed land surveyor.
In most cases, other building work will require a building permit issued by a registered building surveyor.
A building surveyor helps ensure:
your builder is registered and appropriately insured
correct paperwork is in place
inspections occur at key stages
an occupancy permit or certificate of final inspection is issued.
Finding the right people to help
Find a registered builder or plumber (builder, building surveyor, building inspector, designer or demolisher, licensed plumber)
Contact your local council for local requirements and advice
If you’re unsure who supplies your area, check VicWater or contact the Department of Health.
